Lower letters are generally assigned to brighter stars, but a star designated pi is not necessarily the 16th brightest star of the constellation (for example, pi Puppis is number two in brightness in the constellation Puppis).

Pi Herculis is particularly noticeable for its reddish complexion and is an excellent place to begin studying the constellation.

The red giant Pi Leonis in the constellation of Leo the Lion has a radius 80 times larger than our own Sun.